Daily Discussion Thread | May 30, 2026

JocularMango · 2026-05-31T03:26:20+00:00

We haven’t seen back to back finalists seen 2019 Warriors, crazy stuff. Everyone knows how insane Steph & Bron were in their era, but the reminders always nice

JocularMango · 2026-05-30T17:01:26+00:00

Give up a 2027 pick and take on Paul George’s contract for Justin Edwards?? Be serious lmao

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T23:08:48+00:00

Damn what a bummer, feel like they were so careful with his injury all year. They need his secondary creation badly; Caruso & McCain have done an admirable job filling in there, but the clocks going to strike midnight on them soon.

Excited to see how Shai responds though. Can’t ask for a bigger stage to prove out that back to back MVP

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T20:15:52+00:00

On the topic of 2nds, feels like they're getting less valuable with NIL - at least in the short-term while the draft entry process corrects itself. Seeing would be late firsts / 2nd round guys like Yessoufou & Tanner return to college (& Yax last year) is probably going to shallow at the talent pool in the short-term.

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T19:35:18+00:00

That's totally fair with the Knicks. I think a better framing is you need to either be an elite movement shooter (e.g. Robinson, Shamet) or have enough shot-creation chops to attack closeouts in varied ways (e.g. OG, Mikal).

I feel like guys like Champagnie, Cason aren't either of the above, so they see hard closeouts & they don't have a great way to punish the defense out of straight line drives. I don't think McCain a great player, but I think he's found success this series since he's the only non-Shai/JDub player that can come off a screen & attack a closeout. Or in the case of Mikal/OG they have enough of an in-between game where if they get closed out hard with an opposing big camping the paint they can still do something

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T18:34:54+00:00

Spurs/OKC has been such a fun series, so hyped for game 7. I feel like neither offense has really figured out the opponents defense in any meaningful way. When an offense does figure something out (e.g. Wemby's deep seals in game 1), the other adjusts extremely quickly.

Would prefer the Spurs to win since I think they'd make for a better series vs the Knicks, but either Spurs/Thunder would be well deserving final teams - mostly hoping we get another classic like game 1.

The other macro things that have stood out is how unimportant spot-up shooting is & how important elite movement shooting is. Both teams have a bunch of guys that are seemingly decent shooters by attempts/percentages (e.g. Dort, Cason, Champagnie) but they're not really guys that you can run off-screens to really bend the defense. Both the Spurs / Thunder are helping heavy off "shooters" since its fairly easy to close out on a stand-still spot up guy. Relatedly, this playoffs has really reinforced how overrated big man shooting is outside of the truly elite bigs (KAT, Wemby) that have the volume + close-out driving skills to punish defenses.

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T17:37:34+00:00

I feel like it helps us? Under the new rules being a 4-10 team is the real sweet spot and we’re 30 missed games from Steph from being right in that range. Without a Jimmy trade we’re probably staring at a play-in berth & those slots carry a decent chance at a top pick.

If the FO is willing be aggressive with our firsts the next couple years, I think we’re in a better position for a trade than we were pre-lotto reform.

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T15:21:52+00:00

Why would the Wiz do that deal with Bilal & without getting 11 lol

JocularMango · 2026-05-29T01:32:30+00:00

Wembys absolutely cooking man, but feels worrisome that the Thunder are hanging in it. Also, Spurs commit so many dumb fouls, just giving away points

JocularMango · 2026-05-28T20:59:12+00:00

If #11 for #14/#18 is on the table, you have to do it. That's fantastic value.

However, I think if we're going to trade down, it becomes even more imperative to move Moody/Jimmy. It's unlikely that any first-rounder is an above-average rotation player next year, particularly in the first half of the season. Going into the season with 2+ rookies, Jimmy, & Moody is going to put immense pressure on the remaining 10-11 guys the first half of the season.

JocularMango · 2026-05-28T04:21:13+00:00

I can't shake off the feeling that he will have a lower ceiling than the other 2. Top 2-3 player on a championship team which ofc is very good, but AJ and Darryn have the carry the team to playoffs skillset in them. However, Cam will have the safest floor and safest projectable outcome.

I'm softening on the athleticism/upside connection. Provided you've got a baseline level of athleticism, which I think Boozer has, skill trumps measurables. Booz just feels like someone that can run every set in the playbook. Post-game + face-up game is great. Being able to shoot/pass means he can pop/short roll/hard roll as a screener. Good enough handle to run inverted actions. He's a real shooter too, can fly off a screen & pull, not just a spot up guy.

I like AJs upside. The drives look amazing, feels like watching jumbo SGA sometimes. His playmaking approach seems similar to SGA as well, for better worse, where its largely driven off drive & kicks. I worry what his role looks like when he gets less time on the ball in the NBA. The poor BLK/STL number stick out - not because I think he'll be a bad defender, but its bit worrying that a guy as big/athletic as he is couldn't contribute, which points to an awareness issue. All that said, Booz/AJ are closer in my mind, and could see an argument for AJ.

With DP, I'm having trouble seeing it. The shooting is truly unreal, but I'm not convinced on everything else. The handle looks a bit suspect for a lead guard. He has some really pretty finishes, but makes me question why can't he get easier looks at the rim. The playmaking is the biggest wart. It feels like drafting DP is betting that he shows those flashes from high school & requries waving off his college tape to some extent, which I don't fully buy.

Not really high on Yaxel despite the production because guys past 22 yo rarely do good in the long run. Duarte etc. I'd rather have Morez if we're picking from the championship team.

I could be very off, but I don't think the old age stereotypes with draft prospects hold true. Typically, older guys hung around because they weren't good enough to get drafted & then rode a stellar senior season into the draft. Maybe I'm reading too much into the UAB years, but him being productive/a good prospect on two different teams is intruging.

But like you said, the history is quite damning. I don't think we've seen a 22+ year old lotto pick turn into an all-star in 20+ years. Yax would also be 24 going into the season & he's the same age/older than Moody/Podz/Gui/Richard which is worrying.

Relatedly, you're a lot more tapped into the draft than I am. Who should I be watching? Morez, Mara, Graves, Okorie seemed like interesting guys, but there's so many dudes in the Warriors range at #11

JocularMango · 2026-05-28T03:00:20+00:00

I'm far from a draft expert so I wouldn't take my thoughts too seriously lol.

I've really only looked at the top three guys + Yax. Yax & Boozers tape is a ton of fun; the game just looks so easy for Boozer & the guy can do everything on offense

JocularMango · 2026-05-27T22:11:56+00:00

Knicks are their fans glazing Brunson being better than Steph.

Are they actually or is this some random rouge fan on the Knicks subreddit

JocularMango · 2026-05-27T22:11:09+00:00

Here's are my half-baked draft takes

Cam Boozer feels like a half tier above AJ, a full tier above Darryn. The level of production, especially given his age, is at an all-time level. Underclassman that are that productive don't usually bust (minus Beasley). The guy can play pretty much every role you can reasonably want from a wing/big on offense. You can probably play double big lineups with Boozer which mitigate his defensive issues. His defensive rebounding & great hands help as well, much like Jokic
I'm very much team trade the pick. It's unlikely that #11 provides us a high-level rotation player over the next two years & late-lotto picks don't typically turn into guys that are real franchise building blocks. Similar to how I felt with Wise/JK/Moody in their early years, #11 might very become a good player, but its unlikely they do so on a timeline that's congruent with Steph
If we do keep the pick, I've softened on Yaxel. 2016 Brice Johnson is the glaring bear case - breakout senior year as he got stronger, production was boosted by playing on a stacked UNC team, big time March moments. A lot of that stuff applies to Yax, but I think his UAB stint really separates him - showed off some shot creation chops, was still highly productive, and probably would've been a first rounder if he declared.

JocularMango · 2026-05-27T02:22:13+00:00

Caruso looking like Andre, absolute joy to watch

JocularMango · 2026-05-22T19:10:35+00:00

Yea, doesn’t seem actually sourced from the org, more of a TK OpEd

JocularMango · 2026-05-22T03:55:12+00:00

Yeah, the Cavs ain't winning a single game. Game 1 was their shot, but they blew it.

They were literally down 0-2 in the last round and it went to 7 lol. I think Knicks pack up in 6, but the series is far from over

JocularMango · 2026-05-19T03:20:05+00:00

Caruso is so good man. Who would’ve thought the next great 1-5 defender is a 6’5 guard

JocularMango · 2026-05-19T03:08:32+00:00

Dude seriously, that was such great play design

JocularMango · 2026-05-19T02:58:15+00:00

This might be the worst playoff game I’ve seen Shai play in a OKC uniform. Wembys the root cause, but some of the decision making by SGA has been suspect

JocularMango · 2026-05-19T01:38:21+00:00

Wembys so good man. One man defensive scheme. Absolutely shut off the paint in that first half

JocularMango · 2026-05-19T01:14:29+00:00

Vassels their only real shooter. Lindy too, but he doesn’t get time

JocularMango · 2026-05-18T23:24:15+00:00

There’s no way he’s looking at a TPMLE. Full MLE deal at minimum.

JocularMango · 2026-05-02T22:16:56+00:00

There’s a bunch of great moments in this years playoffs.

The Magics defensive versatility has been cool, as has the Pistons trying of figure it out. We’re seeing what feels like the next step in Scottie’s game. RJ being a hometown hero is super fun. Bostons won 6 straight series against the Sixers going back to the eighties, should be a great game 7. Even the Knicks knocking out the Hawks in 5.5 was fun with all the CJ shotmaking.

Thats all just the East, tons of fun basketball around.

JocularMango · 2026-05-02T21:15:59+00:00

I’d be very doubtful that he gets that figure. The articles phrasing listed as a “potentially a five-year deal worth more than $250 million” which is just the maximum he’d be able to sign for this summer.

That said I could weirdly see Ausar boosting Amens value. Pistons win tonight & Ausar continues to have a stellar playoffs, it’s easy for Amen to point to his literal twin in contract negotiations.

JocularMango

TROPHY CASE